File-case



(No Model.)

W. F. ALTFATHER. FILE CASE.

No. 386,952. Patented July 31, 1888.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM F. ALTFATHER, OF \VEATHERFORD, TEXAS.

FILE-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,952, dated July 31, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. ALTFA- THER, of lVeatherford, in the county of Parher and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in File Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in thenature of an improvement in filing-cases for filing checks, vouchers, deeds, bills, and,in short, any document that it is desirable should be filed for security and at the same time be readily accessible at any time.

In the drawings, Figure is a perspective view of the file-case open. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the half-sections of the case, with the follower in place. Fig. 3 is a cross secliou of one of the sections. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the pockets. Fig. 5 is a top edge view of the follower; Fig. 6, a side view of a modification of the same; and Figs. 7 and S are cross-sections of modified forms of the case.

My improvement consists of two or more parts, A A, united so as to allow of their being folded together, thereby securing greater security and also compactness and portability. In connection with and as a part of the filingcase the extensible pockets B B and the follower 0 are placed within the same. The upper edges of the cases A A are made with a lip,

c, projecting inward, as shown in cross-section at Fig. 3, to retain the pockets in their proper place in opening or closing the case or in setting it on end.

The follower 0 (shown in Fig. 2) is made of any suitable material having sufficient elasticity to perform its part which is to keep the papers filed so pressed together as to prevent their falling out of their proper receptacle or compartment. This is accomplished by making the follower of such length that in order to get it into its proper position it will be slightly bent, with the convex side or face next to the papers. Being then pressed against the papers by simply placing thumb and fingers against its center and exerting sufficient force to compress the papers, the result will be that on removing the pressure of the hand the elasticity of the material will cause it to assume a less degree of curvature, thereby impinging on the sides of the case and retaining its position and pressure against the papers. In order to more certainly secure the end desired, a strip of rubber or other suitable material is secured on each end of the follower, as shown in Fig. 5, and for this purpose the edges may be slitted, as in Fig. 6, and the rubber inserted alternately between the tongues formed by the slits. For greater convenience of controlling the follower projecting thumbpieces a or rings are secured on each side of its center at proper distances, so that when it is desired to release it from its position in order to insert or remove papers, by taking hold of said projections or rings with thumb and finger and exerting sufficient pressure the curvature of the follower will be increased and it can be readily moved backward or away from the papers.

The pockets B,Fig. 4, may be made ofheavy fibrous paper or any suitable material and are formed with long foldsf, with short foldsf" at the bottom. They also may be indexed or left blank for special indexing by the person using it, and the number of pockets is only limited by the size of case. The cases may be made of any suitable material and of different sizes suitable for the different purposes for which they are to be used. I show also in cross-section at Fig. 7 a form of case made with inner convex sides, and in Fig.8 a form with inner angular sides, by which the lip 0 (shown in Fig. 3) may be dispensed with and the same end attained-via, the extensible pockets prevented from falling out. If case is made of wood, the outside of same may be square, as shown at D, Fig. 7. If made of sheet metal or other suitable material, the convex or angular form may be used. The case may also be made of such size as to admit of having one or more divisions or partitions extending through it, thus forming as many compartments as may be desired. These divisions may be made to run either across or lengthwise (or both) of case, and by this means compartments of different lengths may be made, thus accommodating papers of different sizes. I may also construct the drawers of desks with edges 0, and thus adapt them to receive the pockets B and followers 0, in which application the outer case, A A would not be required.

With reference to the pockets B it will be seen that each series is made of a single piece of material folded or creased to make the long folds f, which form partitions, and short folds 5 f at its bottom, which give size and flexibility to the pockets.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination, witha case,of the pockro ets B, constructed in series of a single piece of material having partitions formed by long foldsf, connected at the bottom by short folds f substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The pockets B, made in series of asingle 15 piece of material, having long folds fand short folds f at the bottom, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the folded pockets B, of the file-case having its sides constructed 20 to overlap a partof the ends of the pockets, and an elastic follower. O, with thumb-pieces a a, arranged to bind with the sides of the case by straightening, as described.

. WILLIAM F. ALTFATHER.

\Vitnesses:

J IM P. OWENs, P. V. FARRELL. 

